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"I regret that our office in Uganda had to close after 18 years, during which we were able to work closely with civil society and people from various walks of life in Uganda, as well as engage with State institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights for all Ugandans," Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a news release.
He added, "For our part, the United Nations Human Rights Office remains committed to working on human rights in Uganda in accordance with my global mandate."
Türk recalled his collaboration with the government and partners, including the incorporation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into national planning and the adoption of a national action plan on business and human rights.
"Much progress has been made in the country over the years, but serious human rights challenges remain on the path to full enjoyment of human rights for all," he added.
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Much progress has been made in the country over the years, but severe human rights challenges still stand in the way of all citizens fully enjoying their human rights.
Türk, in particular, expressed alarm about the period leading up to the 2026 elections, citing the increasingly hostile atmosphere in which human rights activists, civil society actors, and journalists operate.
The closure of the Kampala office follows the recent closure of sub-offices in Gulu and Moroto.
The Government of Uganda decided in February to end the mandate of the High Commissioner's Office
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and human rights advocates condemned the measure and demanded that it be reversed.
Other UN human rights mechanisms, including the Committee against Torture and the Human Rights Committee, expressed concerns earlier this year, including the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in May 2023, which criminalises consenting sexual relations between adults of the same sex and imposes severe penalties, including the death penalty.